Magnetic field dependent magnetization of a conducting plasticized poly(aniline) film

We report magnetic data of free standing films of poly( aniline) (PANI) protonated with a plasticizing di-ester of succinic acid. The data have been obtained using the electron spin resonance (ESR) technique at two different frequencies, X-band (9.4 GHz) and Q-band ( 34 GHz), on one hand, and by magnetization measurements in broad ranges of temperatures and magnetic fields on the other hand. All the data can be explained assuming a transition as a function of temperature from delocalized magnetic moments in the valence band to localized positive polarons in several antiferromagnetically correlated bands. By increasing the magnetic field, the magnetic properties are affected in several ways. An intra-band admixture of states occurs; it contributes to increase the spins' localization and finally promotes an antiferromagnetic-metamagnetic transition.202

Revisiting the delta-phase of poly(vinylidene fluoride) for solution-processed ferroelectric thin films

<p>Ferroelectric poly(vinylidene-fluoride) (PVDF) has, in the past, been proposed as an ideal candidate for data storage applications as it exhibits a bistable, remanent, polarization that can repeatedly be switched by an electric field. However, fabrication of smooth ferroelectric PVDF thin films, as required for microelectronic applications, is a long-standing problem. At present, the copolymer of PVDF with trifluoroethylene P(VDF-TrFE) is used, but the stack integrity and the limited thermal stability of its remanent polarization hamper large-scale integration. Here we show that smooth neat PVDF films can be made at elevated substrate temperature. On applying a short electrical pulse the ferroelectric polar delta-phase is formed, an overlooked polymorph of PVDF proposed 30 years ago, but never experimentally verified. The remanent polarization and coercive field are comparable to those of the copolymer. The enhanced thermal stability of the polarization is directly related to the high Curie temperature, whereas the ferroelectric properties are related to the molecular packing as derived from the refined crystal structure. The replacement of P(VDF-TrFE) by the commodity polymer PVDF may boost large-scale industrial applications.</p>